Large medical office building approved for Newell Creek

No shortage of tenants for project, developer says

Plans are proceeding for the first of three buildings proposed in a new medical office complex in Mentor’s Newell Creek development.

The city Planning Commission recently approved the final site plan for a 40,000-square-foot building at 8140 Norton Parkway.

Everett Jones of Hplex Solutions, a Columbus-based healthcare development and property management company, presented the plan for the structure March 7.

The building will partially be occupied by Jacqueline Cerar’s Macy Family Dentistry, relocating from the Lake Health Mentor Campus at 9485 Mentor Ave. Cerar also is part of property owner Norton Parkway MOB, LLC.

The developer is working with other prospective tenants as well.

“We’ve gotten tremendous feedback from doctors in the area,” Jones said. “We believe we now have it 100 percent leased.”

The commission asked that the developer continue decorative details on all four sides of the building.

“The exterior of this building, it’s expensive to do it, but … if it’s required and something we must do, we will certainly do it,” Jones said.

Commission member Geoffrey Varga responded, “I think we should think about this in 360 degrees — that it should be the same elevation.”

Following the unanimous vote, Jones added, “You will be proud of our building, I’m certain. We are planning to do something very nice for Mentor.”

The commission in December passed the preliminary plan and subdividing the property for the building as well as for a 5,000-square-foot office on another sublot and a 10,000-square-foot building on a third.

The estimated 10,000-square-foot office would be for the relocated surgery center of Dr. Greg Eippert, who, along with his brother, will be investors and tenants in the 40,000-square-foot structure. His office also currently is at 9485 Mentor Ave.

The 5,500-square-foot building will be home to Great Lakes Jaw & Implant Surgery Center, now at 4230 State Route 306, Willoughby. The project received preliminary site plan approval last month.

The 10 acre complex site is the last piece of the 380acre former David Z. Norton estate to be purchased for development. The family announced plans to sell the estate in 1998.

In December 2004, the commission approved a revised development plan for Newell Creek that substituted 40 acres of residentially designated land for office use on the south side of the medical office property.

In February 2006, the development plan was amended to allow for two gas wells to be drilled and maintained within the development. An amendment to the development plan was considered in February 2018 to allow for a senior living facility, but the commission voted the use to be a substantial deviation from the plan.

Any use proposed within the building or on the adjacent parcels other than an office use will require application for an amendment to the approved development plan for Newell Creek.

Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak mentioned the proposed office campus among the highlights in his Feb. 26 State of the City address.

“It is increasingly important for us to have access to quality treatment and preventative healthcare facilities,” he said.

He also mentioned the Cleveland Clinic project planned at the east end of Norton Parkway; the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Campus that opened last year on Market Street; Great Lakes Gastroenterology’s $700,000 investment in its Mentor Avenue site; and the 4,000-square-foot Ohio Center for Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery opening soon on Hopkins Road.

“We’ve gotten tremendous feedback from doctors in the area. We believe we now have it 100 percent leased.” — Everett Jones of Hplex Solutions, a Columbus-based healthcare development and property management company